Assyrian Dark Brown Diorite Lamashtu Plaque. 8th-7th Century BC; Height 1.6 inch. Front: the female bringer of disease, Lamashtu, is shown with the head of a roaring lion and donkey ears. She holds two double-headed snakes in each of her raised hands as she suckles dogs at her naked breasts. Back: a procession of seven demons with human bodies and animal heads moves to the right. In the sky are symbols of four Assyrian astral divinities: Sin, Pleiades, Ishtar, Ashur.
